U.S. patent application number 12/404060 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for process and apparatus for making a telecommunications connection to a called portable radio terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to TELES AG INFORMATIONSTECHNOLOGIEN. Invention is credited to Frank Paetsch.
Application Number | 20090233610 12/404060 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40627028 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090233610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paetsch; Frank |
September 17, 2009 |
Process and Apparatus for Making a Telecommunications Connection To
a Called Portable Radio Terminal
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a telecommunication
arrangement for providing a telecommunication connection (TC
connection) to a called mobile radio terminal. Routing information
are provided to a switch (3) via which a connection establishment
to a called mobile radio terminal (2, 2', 2'') takes place, that
regard the forwarding of the connection establishment to a certain
mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53). For providing the routing
information data of a insertion card device (4) regarding at least
one parameter of those insertion cards is evaluated, that are
allocated to a mobile radio gateway upon undergoing the connection
establishment and are arranged and administered together in the
insertion card device (4). By means of this evaluation one of the
administered insertion cards is selected for the mobile
communication to the called mobile radio terminal (2, 2', 2''). The
connection establishment is forwarded from the switch (3) to the
mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) allocated to the selected
insertion cards by means of the provided routing information.
Inventors: |
Paetsch; Frank; (Berlin,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NOVAK DRUCE DELUCA + QUIGG LLP
1300 EYE STREET NW, SUITE 1000 WEST TOWER
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
TELES AG
INFORMATIONSTECHNOLOGIEN
Berlin
DE
|
Family ID: |
40627028 |
Appl. No.: |
12/404060 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/445 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 28/18 20130101;
H04W 76/12 20180201; H04W 88/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/445 |
International
Class: |
H04W 40/00 20090101
H04W040/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 014 229.8 |
Claims
1. Method for providing a telecommunication connection ("TC
connection") to a called mobile radio terminal, comprising: routing
of a connection establishment to a switch (3) of a communication
network, wherein at least one mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53)
each having a plurality of radio modules for mobile radio
communication is directly connected to the communication network or
is connected to the communication network via one or several
further communication networks, to each mobile radio gateway (51,
52, 53) a plurality of insertion cards furnished with an identifier
is allocated or can be allocated, which insertion cards allow for a
use of a radio module for mobile radio communication, respectively,
and the insertion cards allocated to or allocatable to the mobile
radio gateway or the mobile radio gateways (51, 52, 53),
respectively, are arranged and administered together in an
insertion card device (4), providing of routing information for the
switch (3) regarding the forwarding of the connection establishment
to a mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53), wherein for providing the
routing information, data of the insertion card device (4) relating
to at least one parameter of those of the administered insertion
cards is evaluated that are allocated to a mobile radio gateway
(51, 52, 53) upon incoming of the connection establishment, and by
means of this evaluation an insertion card allocated to a mobile
radio gateway (51, 52, 53) is selected for the mobile communication
with the called mobile radio terminal (2), forwarding of the
connection establishment by means of the provided routing
information from the switch (3) to the mobile radio gateway (51,
52, 53) that is allocated to the selected insertion card, providing
a mobile radio channel using the selected insertion card, and using
the provided mobile radio channel for the TC connection to the
mobile radio terminal (2).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing routing
information, the switch (3) informs the insertion card device (4)
or a device allocated thereto about the request for connection
establishment to the called mobile radio terminal (2), the
insertion card device (4) or the device allocated thereto generates
a routing information by evaluating at least one parameter of the
insertion cards administered by the insertion card device (4) and
informs the switch (3) about this routing information.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the routing information at
least contains data that identifies the selected insertion card and
mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) allocated thereto.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information the availability of the insertion card is evaluated as
a parameter of the administered insertion cards.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information a time and/or money quota is evaluated as a parameter
of the administered insertion cards.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information a priority allocated to the insertion cards is
evaluated as a parameter of the administered insertion cards.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information a tariff allocated to the insertion cards is evaluated
as a parameter of the administered insertion cards.
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information the belonging of the insertion card to a certain mobile
radio network, respectively, is evaluated as a parameter of the
administered insertion cards.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein for providing the routing
information at least one quality feature allocated to the insertion
cards is evaluated as a parameter of the administered insertion
cards.
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein as a quality feature at
least one of the following is evaluated: the mean connection time
of the mobile radio connection realized with the respective
insertion cards, the signal strength of the mobile radio
connections realized with the respective insertion cards, and the
ratio between the successful and the unsuccessful connection
attempts of the respective insertion cards.
11. Method according to claim 1, wherein such an insertion card for
the mobile communication to the called mobile radio terminal (2) is
selected, concerning which the evaluation of the at least one
parameter yields that the parameter or the parameters fulfil, on
the basis of an evaluation determined in beforehand, the evaluation
criteria best or as well as other insertion cards.
12. Method according to claim 1, wherein the allocation of an
insertion card to a mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) takes place
fixedly or temporarily.
13. Method according to claim 12, wherein a temporary allocation of
an insertion card to a mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) takes
place independently of connection establishment information.
14. Telecommunication arrangement for providing a telecommunication
connection (TC connection) to a called mobile radio terminal,
comprising: a switch (3) of a communication network, at least one
mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) having a plurality of radio
modules for the mobile radio communication, respectively, wherein
to each mobile radio gateway (51, 52, 53) a plurality of insertion
cards each furnished with an identifier is allocated or
allocatable, which respectively allow for a use of a radio module
for mobile radio communication, an insertion card device (4) in
which the insertion cards allocated to the mobile radio gateway or
the mobile radio gateways (51, 52, 53), respectively, are arranged
and administered together, wherein the insertion card device (4) or
a device allocated thereto is adapted and designed to provide the
switch (3) with routing information that relate to the forwarding
of the connection establishment to a mobile radio gateway (51, 52,
53), and, for this purpose, to evaluate data concerning at least
one parameter of those of the administered insertion cards that are
upon incoming of the connection establishment allocated to a mobile
radio gateway (51, 52, 53), and, by means of this evaluation,
selects an insertion card allocated to a mobile radio gateway (51,
52, 53) for the mobile communication to the called mobile radio
terminal (2).
15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the switch (3) comprises
an interface for call control and the insertion card device (4) or
the device allocated thereto comprises a call management module
(42), wherein the interface and the call management module (42) are
designed such, that the switch (3) upon existence of a connection
establishment request to the called mobile radio terminal (2)
signals the connection establishment request to the call management
module (42) via the interface, the call management module (42) on
the basis of the evaluation of the data regarding at least one
parameter of the administered insertion cards selects one of the
insertion cards, and thereupon the call management module (42)
transmits as routing information to the switch (3) information
regarding the selected insertion card and a mobile radio gateway
allocated thereto (51, 52, 53) via the switch's interface.
16. Device according to claim 15, wherein the interface for call
control of the switch (3) is designed according to an open
interface standard.
17. Device according to claim 14, wherein the call management
module (42) is designed such that it evaluates at least one of the
following parameters for the selection of one of the administered
insertion cards: the availability of the insertion cards, a time
and/or money quota of the insertion cards, a priority allocated to
the insertion cards, a tariff allocated to the insertion cards, the
belonging of the insertion cards to a certain mobile radio network,
respectively, and at least one quality feature allocated to the
insertion cards.
18. Device according to claim 14, wherein the switch (3) is a TDM
switch or a soft switch.
19. Device according to claim 14, wherein the insertion cards are
SIM cards.
20. Device according to claim 14, wherein the insertion card device
(4) is a SIM server.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing a
telecommunication connection (TC connection) to a called mobile
radio terminal and a telecommunication arrangement for conducting
the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] So called mobile radio gateways are known that provide an
interface between one or several telecommunication mobile radio
networks and arbitrary other networks, for instance a
telecommunication fixed network or an IP-network. A mobile radio
gateway is called by a user of another network and forwards the
requested connection via a mobile radio channel to the mobile radio
network in which the called party resides. For this, the mobile
radio gateway implements the functionality of a mobile radio
telephone and, in a way, calls the called party as a mobile radio
telephone. Mobile radio gateways therefore possess the same mobile
radio modules that are employed in mobile radio terminals (cell
phones). Such mobile radio gateways are known for instance from DE
103 14 144 A1.
[0003] It is thereby provided that the mobile radio gateway
contains a plurality of insertion cards, particularly so called SIM
cards for the administered mobile radio channels. Arbitrary SIM
cards of different network providers can be employed. A SIM card is
an insertion card having an identifier by means of which a mobile
radio device is allocated to a certain network provider, gets a
certain call number and is clearly identifiable in all mobile radio
networks. Moreover, a SIM card comprises a PIN number
(PIN--Personal Identity Number), security-relevant data such as
communication keys and safety algorithms, user-specific data such
as abbreviated dialling numbers as well as net-specific data such
as the identifier of the current sojourn area. A SIM card
personalizes a mobile radio terminal concerning the user and
concerning the network provider and allows for the account of call
charges by the network provider.
[0004] From EP 13 57 732 B1 a server for a telecommunication system
and a method for generating a telecommunication connection is known
in case of which SIM cards are administered in a central SIM server
and a SIM card is allocated to a local unit upon existence of a
dial signal for the purposes of the telecommunication connection to
be established.
[0005] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a
method for efficiently providing a telecommunication connection to
a mobile radio terminal using a mobile radio gateway and a
telecommunication arrangement for conducting the method.
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the invention this problem is solved by a
method having the features of claim 1 and a telecommunication
arrangement having the features of claim 14. Exemplary embodiments
of the invention are stated in the subclaims.
[0007] According thereto a switch via which a connection
establishment to a called mobile radio terminal occurs is provided
with routing information that regards the forwarding of the
connection establishment to a certain mobile radio gateway. For
providing the routing information, data of an insertion card device
regarding at least one parameter of insertion cards is evaluated,
which insertion cards are allocated to a mobile radio gateway,
respectively, and which are arranged and administered together in
the insertion card device. Thereby, data regarding at least one
parameter of those of the administered insertion cards is evaluated
that upon incoming of the connection establishment are allocated to
a mobile radio gateway. By means of this evaluation, one of the
administered insertion cards allocated to a mobile radio gateway is
selected for the mobile communication to the called mobile radio
terminal. The connection establishment is forwarded by means of the
provided routing information to the mobile radio gateway that is
allocated to the selected insertion card. A mobile radio channel is
provided using the selected insertion card, and the provided mobile
radio channel is used for the TC connection to the mobile radio
terminal.
[0008] The evaluation of data according to the invention regarding
parameters of the administered insertion cards for providing
routing information for the switch only occurs regarding those of
the administered insertion cards that are currently, i.e., upon
incoming of a connection establishment request, allocated to a
mobile radio gateway. Only to these insertion cards and mobile
radio channels allocated thereto a routing of an incoming
connecting establishment shall take place. Otherwise, an insertion
card would still have to be allocated to a mobile radio gateway in
case of the presence of an connection establishment request which
is to be avoided, since this would cause a considerable delay of
the dial up (so called "post dial delay").
[0009] In one embodiment, the insertion card device can be a so
called SIM server. In a SIM server insertion cards for mobile radio
communication are provided at a central location or rather in a
central computer. Depending on requirement and demand, an insertion
card is on the part of a mobile radio gateway requested for by the
central computer and is provided by the latter to the mobile radio
gateway. This provision of the insertion card for the mobile radio
communication does not take place physically. Merely those
information that identify the insertion card and reflect its
functionality are transmitted to the mobile radio gateway via
remote data transmission. Such SIM servers are described for
instance in DE 103 11 980 A1.
[0010] The insertion card for the mobile radio communication thus
resides in a way virtually on a central computer and its
functionality is emulated on the mobile radio gateway on the basis
of specific information and data that are transmitted by the
central computer, if necessary. This allows for the use of central
insertion card pools for one or several mobile radio gateways.
[0011] The solution according to the invention allows to control a
switch (for instance a switch site) by means of an insertion card
device because of data available to the insertion card device, for
instance the availability, the priority and the quality of the
administered insertion cards and to conduct a telecommunication
connection, particularly a call and signalling allocated thereto
onto a mobile radio gateway by means of the selected SIM card.
[0012] Thus, the method according to the invention allows for an
efficient selection of the proper "route" within the switch to the
insertion cards and mobile radio gateways administered by an
insertion card device using information of the insertion card
device. Thereby, present data of the insertion card device, for
instance concerning priority, tariff model and quality of the cards
are used for further control of the calls. For instance, available
channels having a higher priority and/or a better tariff model
and/or a better quality are preferably used for a call. Herewith,
the invention allows for an efficient utilization of the resources
and signalling. A multiple dial-in of the individual mobile radio
gateways can be avoided, for instance. Furthermore, a delay of the
dial-up after dialling ("post dial delay") is strongly reduced by
means of the invention, since an alternative routing can be omitted
in case of unavailability.
[0013] It is noted, that in the sense of the invention the notion
"insertion card" is to be understood functionally. Usually, this is
a matter of pluggable or pushable chip cards. Basically, the
functionality of an insertion card can however also be provided by
a software that is downloaded onto the telecommunication device for
example via the internet, via radio or a CD. The SIM card design is
an example. Future standards of mobile radio communication may
provide other insertion cards.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the switch informs the
insertion card device or a device allocated thereto about the
connection establishment request to the called mobile radio
terminal for providing routing information, the insertion card
device or a device allocated thereto hereupon generates a routing
information by evaluating at least one parameter of the insertion
cards administered by the insertion card device, the insertion card
device informs the switch about this routing information, which
switch hereupon routes the call correspondingly. Thereby, in an
embodiment, the routing information contains at least data that
identifies the selected insertion card and a mobile radio gateway
allocated thereto. This allocation can be fixed or it is conducted
by the insertion card device for the current TC process.
[0015] The parameter or the parameters of the insertion cards that
are evaluated for providing the routing information may be
manifold. A possible parameter is the availability of the cards.
According thereto, only a card is selected that is currently not
occupied, i.e., that is not already used for a mobile radio
communication. A further possible parameter is a time and/or money
quota of the insertion cards, for instance as available for prepaid
cards. In case such a quota is for instance nearly expired such a
card is not selected in case of a requested premium connection. A
further possible parameter is a priority allocated to the insertion
cards. There may exist insertion cards having high priority that
are preferentially employed or that are preferentially employed in
case of certain categories of connections, for instance premium
connections. A further possible parameter is a tariff allocated to
the insertion cards, wherein the tariff may be accompanied by a
certain priority. A further possible parameter is the belonging of
the insertion cards to a certain mobile radio network,
respectively. Thus, as a general rule, an insertion card will be
selected that belongs to the same mobile radio network as the
called mobile radio terminal or its insertion card, so that a
further routing of the mobile radio call between gateway and mobile
radio terminal is not necessary, even if such a further routing is
by no means excluded.
[0016] A further possible parameter is given by at least one
quality feature allocated to the insertion cards. This can be a
mean connection time ("average call duration") of the mobile radio
connections realized with the respective insertion cards. Further,
this may concern a signal strength of the mobile radio connection
realized with the respective insertion cards. Further, this may
concern the ratio between the successful and the connection
attempts of the respective insertion cards that occurred
altogether, the so called "average seizure ratio"--ASR. The ASR, as
well as the criteria mentioned before, represent a measure for the
network quality that is defined in the ITU recommendation SG2
E.411.
The telecommunication arrangement according to the invention
comprises: [0017] a switch of a communication network, [0018] at
least one mobile radio gateway having a plurality of radio modules
for the mobile radio communication, respectively, wherein to each
mobile radio gateway a plurality of insertion cards furnished with
an identifier is allocated that allow for a use of a radio module
for the mobile radio communication, respectively, and [0019] an
insertion card device in which the insertion cards allocated to the
mobile radio gateway or the mobile radio gateways are arranged and
administered together, wherein [0020] the insertion card device or
a device allocated thereto is adapted and designed to provide the
switch with routing information that regards the forwarding of a
connection establishment to a mobile radio gateway and for this
purpose evaluates data concerning at least one parameter of those
of the administered insertion cards that upon incoming of the
connection establishment are allocated to a mobile radio gateway,
and, by means of this evaluation, selects an insertion card
allocated to a mobile radio gateway for the mobile communication to
the called mobile radio terminal.
[0021] The individual components of the telecommunication
arrangement according to the invention may thereby be realized
inside a single network or may completely or partly reside in
different networks.
[0022] The device allocated eventually may be a system for instance
that may access data of the insertion card device and evaluate this
data.
[0023] In an embodiment, the switch comprises an interface for call
control, and the insertion card device or the device allocated
thereto comprises a call management module. Thereby, the interface
and the call management module are designed such that the switch,
in case a connection establishment request to the called mobile
radio terminal exists, signalizes the connection establishment
request to the call management module via the interface, the call
management module selects one of the insertion cards on the basis
of the evaluation of the data concerning at least one parameter of
the administered insertion cards, and hereupon the called
management module transmits, as routing information, information
concerning the selected insertion card and a mobile radio gateway
allocated thereto to the switch via the switch's interface.
[0024] In an embodiment, the interface is designed according to an
open interface standard for call control of the switch. By means of
the possible use of open interface standards for an external
routing platform for controlling the switches (for instance RADIUS)
the method and the TC arrangement may be independent from the used
switch. Alternatively, the interface may also be proprietary.
[0025] In principle, the switch may be designed arbitrarily and may
be designed in an arbitrary network. In an embodiment the switch
may be a TDM switch of a circuit switching network, for instance a
telecommunication fixed line network. In another embodiment the
switch may be a soft switch for example of a next generation
network.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0026] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail
by means of embodiments with reference to the single FIGURE of the
drawing.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication arrangement having a switch
and mobile radio gateways and an insertion card device connected
thereto.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication arrangement that allows for
the establishment and the provision of a TC connection between a
called communication device 1, 1', 1'' and a called communication
device 2, 2', 2''. The called communication device 1, 1', 1'' may
be a telecommunication terminal (TC terminal), for instance.
Particularly, the called communication device 1, 1', 1'' can be a
fixed line network telephone, an IP telephone, a mobile radio
telephone, a computer having a telephone software, a handheld, a
WLAN compatible terminal etc.
[0029] The called communication device 2, 2', 2'' is a mobile radio
terminal. Therewith, each device is denoted that comprises a radio
module and an insertion card that allows for a mobile radio
communication. Particularly, every device is a mobile radio device
that comprises a mobile station (MS) having a mobile or stationary
mobile telephone and a SIM card.
[0030] The called communication device 1, 1', 1'' is connected to a
switch 3 via a communication network 11, 12, 13 which switch 3 also
belongs to a communication network that can be the same network as
one of the networks 11, 12, 13 or a different network. The
communication network 11, 12, 13 via which a terminal 1, 1', 1'' is
connected to the switch 3 may be for instance an IP network, for
example the internet, a circuit switching network, for instance a
telecommunication fixed line network, a mobile radio network or a
WLAN. The switch 3 is a TDM switch or a soft switch, for instance.
At the same time, the connection of the terminal 1, 1', 1'' to the
switch 3 is only exemplary depicted in the FIGURE as occurring via
a network 11, 12, 13. The connection to the switch 3 may also take
place via several networks of the same or different kind.
[0031] Furthermore, several mobile radio gateways 51, 52, 53 are
directly or indirectly connected to the TC network, in which the
switch 3 is arranged. In case of an indirect connection, the
connection takes place via several networks that are connected to
each other.
[0032] Each mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 provides a network
access to at least one mobile radio network. In Germany this may
concern the networks T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O.sub.2. Via a
mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 one mobile radio channel and
therewith one call to a called mobile radio terminal 2, 2', 2'' may
be established, respectively. Into each mobile radio gateway 51,
52, 53 a plurality of mobile stations may thereby be integrated,
each comprising a radio model and a SIM card.
[0033] However, the SIM cards are not physically present in the
mobile radio gateways 51, 52, 53, but are merely emulated there or
the like. Instead, the SIM cards of the mobile radio gateways 51,
52, 53 are arranged in a central SIM server 4. Depending on
specification and demand, a SIM card on the part of a mobile radio
gateway 51, 52, 53 is requested by the SIM server 4 and provided to
the mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 by this SIM server 4. Such a
provision of a SIM card does not take place physically. Merely
information that identifies a SIM card and reflects its
functionality is transmitted to the mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53
via remote data transmission.
[0034] The SIM server 4 comprises a card administration device 41
and a call management module 42. The card administration device 41
possesses a plurality of SIM card read devices 411, into which a
SIM card is insertable, respectively. In an embodiment, a plurality
of card read devices 411 having a plurality of SIM cards is present
that can be allocated to different networks and may comprise
different tariff models, qualities and priorities. Via a central
control (not shown) the individual SIM cards are monitored and
eventually allocated to a mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53, wherein
such an allocation may be fixed or temporary. Such card
administration devices are known from DE 103 11 980 A1.
[0035] In case of a temporary allocation, an allocation of a SIM
card to a mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 takes place for a certain
period, for example, in order to use a low priced tariff during
this period or for using a certain money quota of the SIM card. In
no event, an allocation of a SIM card to a mobile radio gateway 51,
52, 53 takes place until a certain incoming call exists. Since in
such a case, due to the then existing necessity of the SIM card to
register itself for the incoming call in the mobile radio network,
the call may not be established in a reasonable time: the post dial
delay would be too large. In other words, a temporary allocation of
an insertion card to a mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 is always
independent of connection establishment information.
[0036] Thus, the temporary allocation of a SIM card to a mobile
radio gateway 51, 52, 53 always takes place depending on attributes
or parameters such as for instance certain tariffs or money quotas
that are independent of connection establishment information and
have nothing to do with these things. Therewith, the temporary
allocation of a SIM card always comprises a time component. For a
considered incoming call always one SIM card is selected that is
already fixedly or temporarily allocated to a mobile radio gateway
51, 52, 53 and is already registered in a mobile radio network.
[0037] In the depicted embodiment, the call management module 42 is
integrated into the SIM server 4. It can however also be designed
as a separate unit or a part of another system in which case this
unit or this system communicates with the SIM server which then
consists of the card administration device 41. The call management
module 42 has access to data concerning the SIM cards administered
by the administration device 41. Particularly, it can detect and
evaluate their parameters, for instance concerning a current
availability of the cards and/or the belonging to a certain mobile
radio network and/or a time or money quota of the cards and/or the
priority of the cards and/or the quality of the cards and/or a
tariff model of the cards.
[0038] The SIM server 4 may communicate with the switch 3 via the
call management module 42 and may provide the latter with routing
information. The switch 3 is in so far controllable by the call
management module 42. Hereto, the switch 3 comprises an interface
and is not depicted separately which allows for a communication to
the call management module. The interface can be designed according
to an open interface standard, for example RADIUS ("Remote
Authentication Dial-IN User Service") or as a proprietary
interface.
[0039] Thus, the TC network contains a "controllable" switch 3
based on open or proprietary interfaces for call control. The SIM
server 4 itself or a system that accesses the data of the SIM
server 4, contains the call management module 42 that can control
by means of the control interface of the switch 3 calls of the
switch 3. The switch 3 signalizes an incoming call to the call
management module 42 and the call management module 42 selects,
because of information concerning at least one parameter of the SIM
cards administered by the SIM server 4, a SIM card already
allocated to a mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53 and therewith an
available channel in a mobile radio gateway 51, 52, 53.
[0040] Parameters which are evaluated by the call management module
42 for selection of a SIM card are for instance the availability of
the SIM card in an available channel of the mobile radio gateway,
the priority of the available SIM cards, wherein the priority is
based on a tariff model or other characteristics, as well as the
quality of the available SIM cards. For determining the "quality"
of a SIM card the mean call time ("average call duration"), the
signal strength and/or the ratio between the successful and the
connection attempts of the respective SIM card ("average seizure
ratio") that occurred altogether is determined, for instance.
[0041] In an embodiment, the incoming call is sent to the "best
possible" SIM card in a mobile radio channel of a mobile radio
gateway 51, 52, 53. This "routing information" the SIM card and a
mobile radio gateway allocated to the SIM card upon incoming of the
call contains, is given back to the switch 3 and the TC network
sends the call to the corresponding available mobile radio gateway
and mobile radio channel.
[0042] In detail, the course of the method is as follows.
[0043] If a terminal 1, 1', 1'' wants to establish a
telecommunication communication, particularly a telephone
connection to a mobile radio terminal 2, 2', 2'', the connection
request is routed to the switch 3 via one of the telecommunication
networks 11, 12, 13 and eventually via further networks. The
signaling can take place for instance according to the protocols
SEP (Session Initiated Protocol), H.323, or, particularly,
concerning circuit switching connections, for instance in the
framework of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or SS7
(Signalizing System Number 7) signaling.
[0044] The call to the called mobile radio terminal, for instance a
mobile radio terminal 2, is received in switch 3. For switch 3 the
question now arises, to which of the mobile radio gateways 51, 52,
53 and to which of the mobile stations of the respective mobile
radio gateways 51, 52, 53 and thereby to which of the SIM cards
allocated to the mobile radio gateways 51, 52, 53 the call shall be
routed. For this, the switch 3 announces the incoming call to the
call management module 42. The call management module 42 now
selects, as explained, for instance because of the SIM allocation
that has taken place, because of the availability (is the SIM card
locked into the mobile radio network and is the channel
available?), because of an adjusted or determined priority of an
available SIM card, and eventually because of the quality of an
available SIM card, one of the SIM cards that are allocated to the
mobile radio gateways 51, 52, 53. Thereby, in an embodiment, the
"best possible" SIM card is selected, i.e., the SIM card that
corresponds to predefined evaluation criteria concerning the
respective parameters in the best way.
[0045] By means of the allocation of a SIM card that has taken
place, the mobile radio gateway to be used as well as the mobile
radio channel to be used are defined. This information concerning
the mobile radio gateway and the mobile radio channel, wherein the
mobile radio channel is defined by the SIM card, is transmitted to
the switch 3 by the call management module 42 via the interface of
the switch 3 as a response. Hereupon, the switch 3 routes the call
to the requested mobile radio gateway 51 and from there to the
mobile station having the selected SIM card. The selected mobile
station now realizes a mobile radio channel to the called mobile
radio terminal 2. The selected mobile station thereby calls the
mobile radio terminal 2 using the selected SIM card. The call is
thereby transmitted to the mobile radio terminal 2, for instance
via a transceiver station BTS (BTS--Base Transceiver-Station), an
allocated control device, and further network infrastructure of the
involved mobile radio network.
[0046] Thus, a mobile radio channel is provided using the selected
SIM card and--after completion of the dial up to the called mobile
radio terminal 2 and after interconnecting the call--used for the
TC connection to the mobile radio terminal 2.
[0047] According to the described method, a switch is controlled by
means of a SIM server on the basis of data concerning the
administered insertion cards available to the SIM server and an
incoming connection request is concertedly routed to a mobile radio
gateway and a SIM card allocated thereto and selected upon incoming
of the call. The routing information provided with the switch thus
concern the selection of a SIM card and therewith of a mobile radio
channel out of the set of the administered SIM cards, which are
upon incoming of a connection establishment request allocated to at
least one of the mobile radio gateways.
[0048] The invention is not limited to one of the afore-mentioned
embodiments. For instance, in further embodiments other networks or
protocols may be used. It can also be provided for instance that
the SIM server consists of several distributed units and/or
communicates with the switch in another way. It can also be
provided that the generation of the routing information does not
take place in the SIM server or in a call management module
allocated thereto, but in a switch itself.
* * * * *